Raytheon will provide Excalibur projectiles, testing, manufacturing tooling, test and inspection equipment, projectile shipping and storage containers and training support necessary to sustain early fielding (EF).

Initial early fielding is to be provided by the fiscal year 2005 production contract. The fiscal year 2006 contract will provide 335 tactical Excalibur rounds in addition to other services and test articles.

"The U.S. Army is anxious to get this capability to the warfighter; this award is essential to sustain the anticipated EF program," said Col. John Tanzi, the Army's TRADOC (U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command) system manager for Cannons, Fort Sill, Okla.

This contract follows months of testing during which Excalibur demonstrated an accuracy of 4.5 meters (about 14.8 feet) in 12 successful guided flights. The tests successfully demonstrated the three fuzing modes (delay, height-of-burst, and point detonate) and warhead lethality.

Lethality has been proven against wheeled and tracked lightly armored military systems, simulated personnel targets and a steel reinforced concrete structure. Against the concrete structure, Excalibur successfully penetrated the roof, detonating inside the structure and causing impressive damage to the simulated target array.

Raytheon Missile Systems is the leading developer of guided projectiles, including Excalibur and the Navy's Extended-Range Guided Munition (ERGM). These projectiles will provide U.S. forces with precision munitions capability that is required on the battlefield.

Both systems will provide enhanced lethality and accuracy, while minimizing collateral damage in the complex urban environment.

Excalibur and ERGM leverage many common components and supplier partnerships and apply industry best practices to produce two low-cost and reliable weapon systems that will meet or exceed all customer-defined requirements.

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